Raiders defense seeks to end turnover shutout

ALAMEDA -- The author of one of the most famous takeaways in Super Bowl history can't believe the Raiders have played eight quarters without one.

Cornerback Tracy Porter went so far as to call the Raiders' goose egg when it comes to forcing turnovers "shocking" and "mind-boggling."

"We're (first) in sacks, we're one of the tops in passing yards allowed, but we don't have an interception," Porter said. "We know they're going to come, and once they do, they're going to come in bunches."

Considering the Raiders are facing Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos on Monday night at Sports Authority Field, Week 3 would be a good place to start.

Manning has nine touchdown passes and no interceptions in two games, a career touchdown pass-to-interception ratio of 445-209 in the regular season and a reputation for taking care of the ball.

Porter stole the one pass Manning would probably most like to have back, a 74-yard interception return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLIV, a 31-17 win by Porter's New Orleans Saints over the Indianapolis Colts.

"It'd be nice to have a few more come Monday night," Porter said. "That one was on a big stage, but this one is a big stage also. It's Monday night."

Creating turnovers is the one area where the Raiders defense has come up short in what has been an encouraging start.

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Since giving up touchdowns on their first two possessions against Indianapolis in Week 1, the Raiders have allowed just two touchdowns and one field goal in 17 total possessions by the Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars.

After finishing 28th in scoring defense a year ago, giving up 27.7 points per game, the Raiders are tied﻿ for third at 15.0. Their nine sacks are﻿ tied for most in the NFL after they totaled 25 a year ago, second-worst in the league.

The Raiders are ranked fifth in total defense (261.0 yards per game, down from 354.5) and No. 5 in pass defense (180.5, down from 235.9).

"We have to get the ball," Woodson said. "To not have any fumbles, not to have any interceptions has been tough. I'm used to having a couple myself at this point."

Raiders coach Dennis Allen thinks continued emphasis on getting multiple tacklers to the ball and pressuring the quarterback will pay off.

"It will come with getting those 11 guys to fly around," Allen said. "If we continue to be able to get to the quarterback in the pocket, we're going to get some of those sack-fumbles. Defensively the only reason you go out there is to get the ball back for the offense, and that's what we have had a little trouble doing."

Porter stressed attacking the ball in flight, while Woodson believes film study will put players in better position to get turnovers.

Defensive coordinator Jason Tarver has placed an emphasis on ball-stripping, something Woodson does particularly well. Tarver was also heartened that the Jacksonville game included some tipped passes and near-interceptions -- with cornerback Mike Jenkins coming the closest.

"We need to do a better job of being the second one in on the tackle and pulling at the ball," Tarver said. "The more tips, the more chances you have."

Porter, who played in Denver last year, is fine with rehashing his Super Bowl moment but said the topic was off limits last season when he and Manning were teammates.

"It was kind of understood that the play happened and we moved on from it," Porter said. "He didn't bring it up, I didn't bring it up. Kind of slipped it under the rug. ... He remembers, though. You know he remembers it to this day."